Coventina

by Jamie Antonia

“I can’t tell you Charles.”

  Before heading out the door, Pietro walked back to the study to turn off his computer. When he brought it out of sleep there was a message on the desktop screen. BEG FORGIVENESS OF THE WATER GODDESS

  65

  Special Delivery

  “Ketchup and Mustard,” Layla laughed.

  “Oh yeah. You’d never have to worry about getting those stains on these duds that’s for sure,” Denise giggled.

  Layla had touched the Mustang down in Rome, changing the appearance to that of a Smart DHL Delivery Car.

  “Who is first on the list?” she asked.

  “Hmm, let me see. These first two are within blocks of each other,” Denise said, pointing to the map Aja printed out for them. “That would be Antonio Fortunato, then Gregory Babo.”

  Layla took the map from Denise and entered the coordinates for each of the four stops they needed to make to deliver the packages Aja had them put together.

  “Okay, I am going to be a brunette cause it goes better with these red and yellow uniforms,” Denise said.

  “Really? I think I’m going to be a guy, with thick black wavy hair and bulging muscles,” Layla laughed.

  “Oh, I feel safer already.”

  They changed their appearance and Denise ran up and delivered the first two packages.

  “Were they there?” Layla asked.

  “One was, the other was on his way in. He hasn’t opened it yet. Coffee first. He’s likes coffee.”

  “That’s comforting.”

  Layla steered the Mustang across town to the next stop, the offices of Christina Rossellini. “Would you like me to run this one up?”

  “You can if you like but it is not necessary.”

  “Okay, then I will.”

  “Just pull up over there.”

  Layla parked the car, took the package Denise handed her and went inside the building to make the delivery.

  Only one to go baby, what’s the delay?

  I caught her on her way out. She had to unlock her office to put the package inside. We’re coming down.

  Denise giggled when she saw Layla open the door for a tall slender woman with shoulder length wavy brown hair. Christina smiled at Denise when she walked past the vehicle.

  “Enjoy the beautiful day,” Layla said in Italian before opening the door and getting inside.

  “Do you have a date?” Denise grinned.

  “Can we be nuns at the next stop?

  “I guess we could if you like.”

  “I’m thirsty.”

  “Well there is a McDonald’s on every other corner. Stop and I will run in for some Mochas.”

  Although Layla did not know it, she stopped at the same McDonald’s that Rosina had stopped at earlier that morning. Denise ran in and came back with two Mocha Lattes.

  “Mmm, delizioso.”

  “I don’t feel like scaling a twenty foot wall so we must head over to via delle Fornaci where we can park and stroll onto the grounds,” Denise said.

  “Mmm, okay.”

  “Great. It will give us time to finish these delicious lattes.”

  Moving through the surprisingly light traffic that eventually led them around Vatican City, Layla turned on to via delle Fornaci where, about two blocks up the street, she saw someone leaving a spot where they parked.

  “Angels. Obviously we must be in stealth to get where we need to go having to deal with one layer of security after another, but I think angel garb is in order don’t you think?” Denise said.

  “I sure don’t feel like an angel,” Layla laughed. “And what, precisely, does an angel look like?”

  “Like this,” Denise said, appearing in a spotless white gown with glowing golden hair. “Now you try.”

  “Okay, but I’ve never been kissed by an angel before.”

  “Sure you have baby,” Denise smiled before kissing her. When she opened her eyes, Layla looked exactly like she imagined herself to look. “Perfect, let’s go.”

  They slipped out of the Mustang and made their way, in stealth, into Vatican City.

  “It’s a beautiful morning for a stroll.” Denise said.

  “You’ve made me realize I have a ‘thing’ for angels,” Layla smiled.

  “Should we get a room in town?”

  “Aja would never forgive us.”

  They made their way back to the building that housed the offices of the Holy See, slipping through a few checkpoints with ease.

  “It reminds me of a large, very expensive, campus,” Denise said.

  “It is like a campus, but they don’t have the Shawnee.”

  “Ah, the Shawnee,” Denise sighed, longing for some peace and the beauty of the place they called home.

  When they finally made it to the office of Monsignor Frank Mazzelli, Denise gently knocked on the door three times.

  The Monsignor opened the door and looked around, puzzled that he did not see anyone but a few familiar faces on the other end of the long hall. They came out of stealth catching him completely off guard, draped in flowing white gowns looking identical.

  “Wh, where did you come from?” he asked.

  The women of Rome need you, Denise whispered in his mind. Layla handed him the only package they did not wrap in DHL packaging. It was wrapped in a piece of white linen.

  “Who are you?”

  Help them, Denise again whispered before they disappeared from view, the thick package Layla handed to him still in his hands.

  Okay, it doesn’t look like he’s going to pass out so let’s go.

  Where to? Layla asked as they exited the building.

  “Pizza. I think a good pizza before we head back to Paris.”

  “Mmm, pizza,” Layla giggled.

  66

  Two Moons

  Coventina lay with her head on the lap of Quintus, watching Maria and Diana practicing with wooden swords fashioned by Petilius. “We could all make formidable warriors,” she said.

  “I believe you could. I’d rather you train to become one, and never find a reason to use what you’ve learned,” Quintus said, gently stroking her hair.

  Lucilla, Marcus, Anna and Odumnus had gone shopping to try and find most of the items on a list they created that they wanted to take with them.

  “How much is left that we must do?”

  “Not much at all.”

  “It is very beautiful here. How does this compare to the other world?”

  “It is similar, but it has obvious differences that one quickly gets used to.”

  “Like what?” Coventina asked, turning to face him.

  “Well, the first thing you notice is the light is different. It seems a bit more diffused. The air is thick, and moist. Your first breaths are a bit labored, but quickly become accustomed to it. There are plants that you have never seen here, something very similar to grass. The sky fills with clouds at times. It rains. The night sky is filled with a very different view of the heavens. There are two moons.”

  “Two moons? How romantic.”

  “Yes, I believe it could be.”

  “Why do you think that is? Why is the moon so romantic?”

  “It is the witness of all love stories. She is a goddess, forever embraced by her lover, the Sun. When we are separated from those we love, it brings comfort knowing that they are looking at the same moon we look at. It’s energies flow and ebb much like our own.”

  “For most, night is the sexy time of day. It lights the night with a seductive ambience. You can feel it even if you are not outdoors. I am at my best, my most productive and creative, during a crescent moon.”

  “It is also an all too real concern for warriors. Some leaders only wanted to fight during certain phases of the moon.”

  “Strategic or superstitious?”

  “Both really, but I would say more for superstitious reasons.”

  “And what will the moon be tomorrow night?”

  “Decrescente Nonas.”

  “A Waning Gibbous,” Cove
ntina smiled. “A good time for letting go, clearing away, cleansing, releasing.” She paused to kiss Quintus deeply. “A time for undoing bindings, untying all problem knots, for making space.”

  “I love you Coventina.”

  “Come on,” she grinned, standing up and pulling on his hand until neither was still on the blanket. She reached down for the blanket and threw it over her shoulder. “It’s our turn to go hide in the bushes.”

  67

  Vesuvius

  Rosina was going insane behind the wheel following Pietro. He was driving far too slow for her if she was in a good mood. But her mood was anything but good. When she turned to look directly at Aaron, he could see the fire in her eyes right through the sunglasses she was wearing.

  “I know it’s painful, but we will get to the bottom of everything,” Aaron said.

  “What about that bitch in Spain?” Rosina mumbled, barely moving her mouth.

  “Who, Ines? I don’t think so?”

  “She is a slippery bitch, how do you think she got as rich as she is.”

  “She would be crazy to cross Pietro, and especially Mario.”

  “I still say we pay her a visit.”

  “That is not for us to decide Rosina.”

  “We shall see.”

  They finally pulled up to the iron gate that surrounded Mario Mabille’s compound, a lush sprawling property with one very large white villa, two large guest houses, a residence for his bodyguards and a large swimming pool alongside a tennis court. Mount Vesuvius loomed on the horizon to the east.

  “Nice place in a nice neighborhood, but a couple thousand years ago living here, he would have been toast when that erupted,” Aaron said, pointing to the volcano.

  The gate finally opened. Four men armed with automatic weapons greeted them.

  “Mr. Gugino, Mr. Surdul, Miss Stucco, I have to make sure you are not armed before you can go any further,” Gino said.

  They all allowed themselves to be frisked before Gino and one of the other men took them back to the pool area.

  “Would you like something to eat, or drink?” Gino asked.

  “Coffee,” Pietro said.

  “Scotch for me with a lot of ice,” Aaron said.

  “Water,” Rosina said. Her facial expression was not a smile, but it was no longer a sneer.

  Mario joined them, a middle aged man with greying hair combed back, round sunglasses resting on his long straight nose that seemed to point to the grey beard and hair on his sun tanned chest, clearly visible through his half unbuttoned white shirt.

  “If you are here without an invitation, I am already aware of the fact this must be something important,” Mario said.

  Rosina was about to speak when Aaron stopped her.

  “We are going to need some privacy, and a computer Mario,” Pietro said.

  “Gino.”

  “Yes.”

  “Bring one of the guest laptops. Make sure it does not have a dead battery.”

  Rosina was using all of her will power to keep from exploding, but she dare not anger or insult Mario. Many who did never lived to talk about it.

  “Are you sure you don’t want something to eat?” Mario asked.

  No one could think of food at the moment.

  Gino returned with a Toshiba laptop and placed it in front of Mario.

  “Okay, what is so important?” he asked, opening the computer.

  Rosina waited for Gino to be out of hearing range. “Log into your offshore account.”

  “Which one,” he grinned.

  “Take your pick.”

  Aaron was getting nervous now that Rosina was being asked to talk. After a few moments, he could tell by the look on their faces that Mario too was looking at something very disturbing.

  “Is this some kind of fucking joke?” he asked, motioning for Gino to come over. He summoned two others before doing so, their weapons trained on the three visitors.

  “I was hoping you could tell me,” Rosina said.

  “What is that supposed to mean?”

  “I was the first to discover this, then Aaron, then Pietro and now you.”

  “Somebody is playing us but who would have the balls?” Pietro sneered.

  Before Mario’s eyes, above the browser screen still open to the page that showed his new balance as $660.06, appeared this message. WHAT WAS YOUR’S IS NOW MINE – THE WATER GODDESS

  “Water Goddess? Is it that bitch in Spain?”

  “The thought did enter my head,” Rosina said.

  “Do we have your permission to go and question her?” Pietro asked.

  Mario stared past them at the view of Mount Vesuvius for what wasn’t more than a minute, but seemed like an eternity to them. He was about to speak when the phone ringing in his shirt pocket startled him.

  “Speaking of the devil,” he said quietly before answering it.

  “Wait a minute Ines, slow down and start all over again,” he said, and then switched the speaker on.

  “I said everything is gone. Everything do you understand?” Ines shouted.

  “Don’t talk on the phone. Can you come here today?”

  “There? Why?”

  “Because the same has happened here.”

  There was silence on the other end for a moment.

  “Are you there?” Mario asked.

  “Wait a minute. There is more. There is a message.”

  “Is it from the Water Goddess?”

  “Yes, but how did you?”

  “We got one too. What does it say?”

  Ines read it to him. YOU HAVE DEEPLY OFFENDED THE WATER GODDESS

  “Get here as fast as you can,” Mario said.

  “I will leave right away.”

  “Did any of you receive some fucking Water Goddess message?”

  “I did,” Pietro said. “It said Beg forgiveness of the Water Goddess.”

  “What about you two?” Mario asked.

  “With your permission I will get our computers out of the trunk and check,” Rosina said.

  Mario nodded his approval. She walked out to her car and returned with Aaron’s laptop and hers.

  Aaron started his computer to see this message. YOU MAY BE FORGIVEN – THE WATER GODDESS

  Rosina started up her computer. “It’s just fine with me bitch, whoever you are?”

  She turned the computer for the others to read the message. YOUR LIFE IS MINE – THE WATER GODDESS

  68

  Water Goddess

  “She insists on being with us when the time comes. I cannot and will not try to change her mind,” Quintus said.

  Denise looked at him, sighed, and said, “Okay.”

  They had returned to the farmhouse after wrapping up what needed to be done in Paris.

  “Well, she has sure learned how to wield a Gladius,” Layla said, turning her head from Quintus to Coventina practicing her swordplay with Odumnus in the yard under torchlight.

  “Yes. We did not spend the entire day on a blanket in the bushes,” Quintus laughed.

  “I’ve been conversing with Mys. They have shield medallions for the women that function like yours do,” Denise said.

  “Hey. You said you were hungry. Come on in and eat,” Aja shouted from the doorway.

  “Be right there.”

  “Quintus. Early tomorrow morning, Layla and I are going upstairs to meet with Mys and the others. Is there anything you need?”

  “They should have a package for me as well as the medallions. There is nothing else for now.”

  “Great. Come on baby, my stomach is growling.”

  Midway through their microwaved lasagna Coventina joined them at the table.

  “You’re quite good with that Gladius,” Layla smiled.

  “I hope to only have to use it once,” Coventina said quietly.

  “I’m going to get you up very early tomorrow,” Denise said. Coventina had asked that she be able to create the message they would send the wretches who turned her life upside down and not
Denise using her medallion to pose as her.

  “I will be ready whenever you need me.”

  “We are still undecided as to where to lure them when the time comes, and I am sure there will be a lot of ‘them’.

  “What would be needed?” Coventina asked.

  “A remote place, easy to find, easy to reach, that we could use to our advantage. It must be out of the public eye.”

  “This is not bad for packaged lasagna,” Layla laughed.

  “It is edible, but you really cannot beat lasagna made from scratch,” Denise grinned.

  “I have not tasted a better lasagna than your lasagna Denise,” Aja said. “One day I will try to make your sauce, for starters.”

  “It is so easy to make darling. When this is over I will coach you through it, and leave you a few gallons.”

  “Denise. Can this place be in the UK?” Coventina asked.

  “We would prefer to not have it on their turf, but it might get very messy,” Layla said.

  “There is a farmhouse. It belonged to my great grandfather who handed it down to his daughter and then to my mother.” She paused for a moment to compose her self. “It is in Northumberland, Sewing Shields. I used to love going there during the summer when I was young. It is very near Hadrian’s Wall and Mithra’s Temple.”

  “We shall find time to visit it tomorrow morning then,” Denise said.

  “Denise.”

  “Yes.”

  “It is also very near Coventina’s Well.”

  “It is sounding better by the moment,” Layla smiled.

  “Now, for the morning’s shoot. It is important we be near water. Aja has shown me a few places near here on the map we can use,” Denise said.

  “Why not do it when we get to Sewing Shields?” Coventina asked. “Broomlee Lough. It is an inland lake very near where we are going.”

  Denise started checking something on her iPhone before she answered. First Google Maps, and then, the weather. “The forecast calls for a mild morning fog, but clear skies. It could be perfect.”

  “Great, than it’s settled.”

  “Not quite. It means we will need to get an earlier start than planned. I am going to have to let Mys know.”

  “I will be ready,” Coventina smiled. She seemed happy to know that she would be back in the UK.

  “Behold, the Water Goddess,” Layla grinned, spreading her arms out towards Coventina.

  “Yes,” Denise whispered.

  69

  Sewing Shields

  Aya and Mys joined Denise, Layla, Coventina and Quintus in the room they had dined and met in before. They collected them at the farmhouse and were now en route to the other farmhouse belonging to Coventina’s family.